Tronchuda cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. costata DC) seeds: Phytochemical characterization and antioxidant potential

Tronchuda cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. costata DC) seeds were studied for their chemical composition and antioxidant capacity. Thirteen phenolic compounds were characterized and quantified by reversed-phase HPLC-DAD-MS/MS-ESI and HPLC-DAD, respectively: two sinapoylgentiobiose isomers, three sinapoylglucose isomers, kaempferol-3-(sinapoyl)sophorotrioside-7-glucoside, sinapoylcholine, kaempferol-3,7-diglucoside-4′-(sinapoyl)glucoside, three disinapoylgentiobiose isomers, 1,2,2′-trisinapoylgentiobiose and 1,2-disinapoylglucose. Seven organic acids (aconitic, citric, ascorbic, malic, quinic, shikimic and fumaric acids) were also identified and quantified by HPLC-UV. The aqueous extract of tronchuda cabbage seeds was investigated for its capacity to act as a scavenger of DPPH radical and reactive oxygen species (superoxide radical, hydroxyl radical and hypochlorous acid), exhibiting antioxidant capacity in a concentration-dependent manner against all radicals. These results may be attributed to the high content of hydroxycinnamic derivatives and ascorbic acid.